Deyeuxia P.Beauv.

Tufted perennials, sometimes rhizomatous; branching extravaginal. Leaf-sheath rounded. Ligule membranous. Leaf-blade flat, involute, convolute or conduplicate. Culm erect, or decumbent at base, persistent at maturity; nodes glabrous. Inflorescence paniculate, contracted and ± spicate, often lobed below, or sometimes more lax, persistent. Spikelets 1-flowered, rarely 2-flowered, laterally compressed; disarticulation above glumes; rachilla usually prolonged and tipped by a tuft of silky hairs or rarely by a floret, sometimes rachilla prolongation glabrous and very short. Glumes ± equal and equalling the spikelet, lanceolate, acute or acuminate, membranous to submembranous, 1–(3)-nerved, keel scabrid. Lemma usually < glumes and firmer, submembranous to subcoriaceous, lanceolate, usually minutely denticulate, rounded, ± scabrid, ± obscurely 5-nerved, lateral nerves occasionally excurrent; awn dorsal, scabrid, geniculate or straight, inserted from near base of lemma to slightly above midpoint, to subterminal, rarely 0. Palea ⊬ lemma, hyaline, 2-keeled. Lodicules 2, lanceolate or linear, acute to obtuse, membranous, glabrous. Callus short, blunt, with minute hairs, or the hairs to ⅔ or rarely ⊬ lemma, rarely glabrous. Stamens 3; anthers rarely penicillate. Ovary glabrous; styles distinct, free to base, short; stigmas 2, plumose. Caryopsis compressed, fusiform to oblong or obovoid; embryo small; endosperm doughy or dry. Chasmogamous or cleistogamous.

[From:  Edgar and Connor (2000) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 5 (second printing).]